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U.S. backs down after needling

In a hushed conference hall, as envoys from almost 190 nations looked on, the delegate from Papua New Guinea leaned into his microphone.

Sun., Dec. 16, 2007

BALI, INDONESIA – In a hushed conference hall, as envoys from almost 190 nations looked on, the delegate from Papua New Guinea leaned into his microphone.

"We seek your leadership," Kevin Conrad told the Americans at the UN conference on climate change. "But if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way.''

The conference exploded with applause, the U.S. delegation backed down, and the way was cleared yesterday for adoption of the "Bali road map" after a dramatic half-hour that set the stage for a grinding two years of climate talks to come.

"This is the beginning, not the end," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who made a plea here for action, said later.

"We will have to engage in more complex, long and difficult negotiations.''

The Bali summit was charged with launching negotiations to replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012.

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